After installing my new Minoura MT 4000-SF front rack I was sure glad I had not installed this hunk of steel on a suspension fork as the rack weighs in at a whopping four pounds so I decided to focus on getting some beefier rubber on the front wheel. My Kenda Nevegal performs very well for trails with the Small Block Eight on the rear and is a fairly popular tire combination. However, I have been considering this bike as more of an "all rounder" for mountain bike trail riding, camping and riding pavement to get to trails. For that reason I wanted to get a tire with less rolling resistance and wider than the 2.1 Nevegal. While reading forums and reviews of a variety of tires I concluded that these top five qualities were what I was looking for in a tire that would be a nice fit for a semi fat bike.
This changes many facets of tire considerations as a wider tire offers a bit more traction by its' simple fact of providing more surface contact with the ground. I mention this as most reviews for a particular tire that comes in different widths, most reviews are for the more narrow sizes. At least that was my experience when researching for this purchase.
I was looking at mountain bike tires from Schwalbe, Continental, DMR MOTO, and others and narrowed it down to four tires considering the five qualities listed below. Note that the quality of traction for a front tire is a good idea perhaps to have more "grab" than the rear tire. . I considered the Maxxis Hookworm for longevity and durability as well as its; 2.5" girth and the claim as being the "original fat tire". However the Hookworm on the rear would not provide enough clearance between the frame and tire if it would even fit, would only be able to use on front and obviously does not provide the "grab" or traction needed in a front tire for trails. Maxxis Larsen for it's 2.35" size for both front and rear or as front only for more traction when steering in loose stuff, but at the time of this writing were significantly more expensive and hard to find available for purchase. Kenda's Slant Six is a tire comprised of both qualities fount int the Nevegal and Small Block Eight providing more rolling resistance than the Nevegal and more traction than the Small Block Eight. I really considered the Slant Six for its' 2.5" size and grip for trails, however not having the versatility to rotate my tires when one shows more wear (usually rear) is limiting and not very economical as this bike is to be used for bicycle commuting and touring. So, here is my list of the top five qualities that helped me to decide which tire to get for the front. Hope this helps for your similar considerations.
1. Lighweight, (folding bead typically lighter than wire bead)
2. Low rolling resistance.
3. Longevity/durability.
4. Good traction.
5. Affordable (less than forty dollars)
This changes many facets of tire considerations as a wider tire offers a bit more traction by its' simple fact of providing more surface contact with the ground. I mention this as most reviews for a particular tire that comes in different widths, most reviews are for the more narrow sizes. At least that was my experience when researching for this purchase.
I was looking at mountain bike tires from Schwalbe, Continental, DMR MOTO, and others and narrowed it down to four tires considering the five qualities listed below. Note that the quality of traction for a front tire is a good idea perhaps to have more "grab" than the rear tire. . I considered the Maxxis Hookworm for longevity and durability as well as its; 2.5" girth and the claim as being the "original fat tire". However the Hookworm on the rear would not provide enough clearance between the frame and tire if it would even fit, would only be able to use on front and obviously does not provide the "grab" or traction needed in a front tire for trails. Maxxis Larsen for it's 2.35" size for both front and rear or as front only for more traction when steering in loose stuff, but at the time of this writing were significantly more expensive and hard to find available for purchase. Kenda's Slant Six is a tire comprised of both qualities fount int the Nevegal and Small Block Eight providing more rolling resistance than the Nevegal and more traction than the Small Block Eight. I really considered the Slant Six for its' 2.5" size and grip for trails, however not having the versatility to rotate my tires when one shows more wear (usually rear) is limiting and not very economical as this bike is to be used for bicycle commuting and touring. So, here is my list of the top five qualities that helped me to decide which tire to get for the front. Hope this helps for your similar considerations.
1. Lighweight, (folding bead typically lighter than wire bead)
2. Low rolling resistance.
3. Longevity/durability.
4. Good traction.
5. Affordable (less than forty dollars)
| Lightweight Maxxis Larsen TT Kenda Small Block Eight Kenda Slant Six Maxxis Hookworm | Low Rolling Resistance Maxxis Hookworm Kenda Small Block Eight Maxxis Larsen Kenda Slant Six | Longevity, Durability Maxxis Hookworm Kenda Small Block Eight Maxxis Larsen Kenda Slant Six | Good Traction Kenda Slant Six Maxxis Larsen Kenda Small Block Eight Maxxis Hookworm | Affordable Kenda Small Block Eight Kenda Slant Six Maxxis Hookworm Maxxis Larsen |
 Kenda Small Block Eight's DTC, dual tread compound provides harder material for center knobs providing less rolling resistance, while the Stick E grippier, softer outside knobs provide traction when cornering. Photo is of 2.35" tire that is very grounding. | |
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